They are calling it their "office and commissary" so that's where they will make the packaged waffles and other items that are sold elsewhere. It's possible they might have a little window where you can but the waffles or something, but it won't be a sit-down Taste of Belgium restaurant.

7 hours ago, taestell said:

They are calling it their "office and commissary" so that's where they will make the packaged waffles and other items that are sold elsewhere. It's possible they might have a little window where you can but the waffles or something, but it won't be a sit-down Taste of Belgium restaurant.

 

Plus, it's within walking distance of the Frisch's commissary. 

If you aren't in the Walnut hills area often than this video does a good job snapshot of what is happening 

 

 

Truly crazy to see this much level of new development and restoration in a neighborhood that was declining for so many years.

The old Kroger on McMillan is getting leased to CoMADE, as a temporary home until the CoMADE permanent facility is open in Avondale (targeting spring of 2021). I think this is great since it will bring some life to the empty Kroger building, gives CoMADE time to ramp up, and gives Walnut Hills time to figure out a long term plan for the Kroger site.

 

https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2019/04/22/hub-for-manufacturing-job-training-to-open-in.html

New renderings for the Anthem site development are in the back of this packet: https://eastwalnuthills.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/EWHA-April-Assembly-Minutes-2019-Website.pdf

 

New tentative timeline is a December groundbreaking.

^that’s going to be a massive project. Just seeing the elevations along Taft, it shows how large that block is. I don’t think of that block as being on a hill, but since it’s so large, it does end up with quite a bit of height change from its highest to lowest points. 

The DeSales Church logo looks like we're getting flipped off:

We might see action on the Anthem site soon.  The developer is presenting revised plans to the city later this month.  

 

Also, Firehouse Row apartments are being framed up to the second floor along McMillan St. as we speak; meanwhile the rear buildings facing Wayne are topped out with brick and wood siding being applied.  

 

The thing just east of Gilbert also on the south side of McMillan is framed up to the fourth floor.  

 

A historic home on Stanton was demolished this past weekend.   

@jmecklenborg Are there any documents we can look at about the Anthem site or not released yet?

12 minutes ago, IAGuy39 said:

@jmecklenborg Are there any documents we can look at about the Anthem site or not released yet?

 

I saw a whole bunch of new renderings for this project a few weeks ago, but I can't remember where. Try poking around the planning packets posted online...guessing that's where I saw them.

FIRST LOOK: First Financial prepares transformation of historical space into high-tech branch

 

MORE

First Financial Bancorp will open its first Walnut Hills branch in a $20 million redevelopment of a historical building later this year.

First Financial (Nasdaq: FFBC) plans to open the 3,000-square-foot location in Model Group’s Paramount Square redevelopment in September.

“We understand that one of the keys to vibrancy in a community is access to core services, including banking,” said Archie Brown, president and CEO of First Financial.

Edited June 4, 20196 yr by The_Cincinnati_Kid

really disappointing...a bank? Taking up 2 storefronts?

2 minutes ago, seaswan said:

really disappointing...a bank? Taking up 2 storefronts?

 

While not exciting, it's 2 less store fronts that need to be filled. There are lots of available in WH and these help fill some the voids.  

1 hour ago, edale said:

 

I saw a whole bunch of new renderings for this project a few weeks ago, but I can't remember where. Try poking around the planning packets posted online...guessing that's where I saw them.

You can see the most recent renderings at the end of this packet: https://eastwalnuthills.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/EWHA-April-Assembly-Minutes-2019-Website.pdf

2 minutes ago, brian korte said:

You can see the most recent renderings at the end of this packet: https://eastwalnuthills.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/EWHA-April-Assembly-Minutes-2019-Website.pdf

Thank you!

35 minutes ago, The_Cincinnati_Kid said:

FIRST LOOK: First Financial prepares transformation of historical space into high-tech branch

 

MORE

First Financial Bancorp will open its first Walnut Hills branch in a $20 million redevelopment of a historical building later this year.

First Financial (Nasdaq: FFBC) plans to open the 3,000-square-foot location in Model Group’s Paramount Square redevelopment in September.

“We understand that one of the keys to vibrancy in a community is access to core services, including banking,” said Archie Brown, president and CEO of First Financial.

 

Also, it doesn't look like *any* work has been performed inside the brewery space for months.  Like zero in the Year of our Lord 2019.  

 

 

 

26 minutes ago, IAGuy39 said:

Thank you!

Seems pretty much the same unless I am looking incorrect.

 

They are making surface parking a big part of it where I am not sure if that was the case before on the McMillan side on the south rolling into Woodburn. It may have been the case but can't remember for sure. It looks like there is see-through renderings on those lots for future development.

1 hour ago, IAGuy39 said:

They are making surface parking a big part of it where I am not sure if that was the case before on the McMillan side on the south rolling into Woodburn. It may have been the case but can't remember for sure. It looks like there is see-through renderings on those lots for future development.

 

I don't see any surface parking in the plans. There is a 3 level garage, and there is the current surface parking lot further down Woodburn, which I believe is supposed to be a future phase of development.

16 hours ago, edale said:

 

I don't see any surface parking in the plans. There is a 3 level garage, and there is the current surface parking lot further down Woodburn, which I believe is supposed to be a future phase of development.

 

Thanks, right, this is what I was referring to, making it surface parking then future development after that. I wish they could do it all at once but realize that probably isn't feasible. I think that was probably the same as the original.

Drove through the E. McMillan Corridor up close to the I-71 interchange and back around again. Pretty incredible all the work going on from the Kroger to that point in this area. Should be a really different feel in the next year. Curious to see how they follow up with all of this afterwards to add more density and housing in this corridor. The big one for that area is really going to be what they end up doing with the old Kroger space. Honestly it would almost be better if they tore it down into a nice parking area in the interim, or demoed and rebuilt mixed use at that corner with wide open windows on the ground floor to open it up. That would then possibly push some redevelopment of the old Dairy Market they recently tore down.

 

Also of note, they are doing a ton of work on the old Alms apartment building. It is starting to look a lot more aesthetically pleasing with new windows, etc. but I don't know if this work will stop the constant flow of police to that area.

6 minutes ago, IAGuy39 said:

Drove through the E. McMillan Corridor up close to the I-71 interchange and back around again. Pretty incredible all the work going on from the Kroger to that point in this area. Should be a really different feel in the next year. Curious to see how they follow up with all of this afterwards to add more density and housing in this corridor. The big one for that area is really going to be what they end up doing with the old Kroger space. Honestly it would almost be better if they tore it down into a nice parking area in the interim, or demoed and rebuilt mixed use at that corner with wide open windows on the ground floor to open it up. That would then possibly push some redevelopment of the old Dairy Market they recently tore down.

 

Also of note, they are doing a ton of work on the old Alms apartment building. It is starting to look a lot more aesthetically pleasing with new windows, etc. but I don't know if this work will stop the constant flow of police to that area.

 

Also, the old YMCA is being converted into apartments.  

Yes and getting the Anthem Site re-done will really help a lot too. Would be great if EWH would make E. McMillan Two Way through to Woodburn then when Woodburn turns two way again. Seems like a no brainer.

 

Another BIG thing in my mind, re-doing the intersection of Gilbert and E. McMillan. That's in really rough shape and after they finish the buildings which seems like every corner besides the PNC Building, they should re-do it with bump outs, etc. That would really upgrade that corner.

Clifton Ave to Woodburn would make a great streetcar corridor ?

1 hour ago, IAGuy39 said:

Yes and getting the Anthem Site re-done will really help a lot too. Would be great if EWH would make E. McMillan Two Way through to Woodburn then when Woodburn turns two way again. Seems like a no brainer.

This has already been approved by the East Walnut Hills Assembly  (neighborhood council) and they've approved the use of TIF funds to pay for the planning documents. Once planning docs are done and more accurate costs are known a negotiation with the city will ensue to determine how to pay for the conversion itself. City DOTE is on board.

1 hour ago, Pdrome513 said:

Clifton Ave to Woodburn would make a great streetcar corridor ?

 

There is a pretty wild photo of the original streetcar tracks on a temporary wood bridge over Reading Rd. back when the current art deco bridge was built around 1930.  The McMillan St. streetcar line traveled down Fairview Ave. to the old Fairview Incline, then directly down to McMicken St.  The streetcar then continued over the Brighton Bridge over the canal to Central Ave.   

 

McMillan/Calhoun between Clifton and Auburn Ave. are more congested, around the clock, than any downtown street.  I'd argue that there would be a greater need for dedicated lanes in Clifton Heights than downtown.  I'd also argue for a streetcar-only bridge over Vine at the Mad Frog.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$55 million mixed-use development lands praise, final approval 

 

The long-planned redevelopment of the former Anthem site in East Walnut Hills took a step forward Friday morning.

 

More below:

https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2019/06/21/55-million-mixed-use-development-lands-praise.html

The strip of old abandoned homes along the east side of Woodburn Ave. just north of St. Francis DeSales Church are being renovated:

The city has also done a major rebuild of Woodburn from Chapel up to Gilbert/Hewitt.  Curbs, sidewalks, storm drains, everything.  Did they extract some concessions from the developer(s)?   That's not a typical street rehab program.  

16 hours ago, jjakucyk said:

The city has also done a major rebuild of Woodburn from Chapel up to Gilbert/Hewitt.  Curbs, sidewalks, storm drains, everything.  Did they extract some concessions from the developer(s)?   That's not a typical street rehab program.  

 

Yeah, I'm curious as well where the funding came from. It's a big improvement.

 

Before: https://www.google.com/maps/@39.1349046,-84.4760671,3a,75y,36h,82.3t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1skaVENHoJIHsC3y143SbOmw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

After: 

 

Did they really narrow the street?  Sure doesn't look like it.

2 minutes ago, jjakucyk said:

Did they really narrow the street?  Sure doesn't look like it.

If they did narrow it, it was probably only by a few inches. There's still room for a lane of parked cars. And based on how far the curb is from the trees, it doesn't look like much of a change. 

Either way it looks so much better now!

Latest round of Historic Tax Credits has awarded the Manse Apartments project:

 

Quote

Manse Apartments (Cincinnati, Hamilton County)

Total Project Cost:  $12,688,170

Total Tax Credit:  $1,199,999

Address: 916-926 and 1004 Chapel St. and 1001 Lincoln, Cincinnati, 45206

The Manse Apartments served the Cincinnati community for many years as the Manse Hotel and Annex. It was one of very few hotels serving African American travelers, and it also served local residents with its banquet facilities. In later years, it was converted to apartments. Rehabilitation plans call for 60 affordable apartments for seniors and families in the two historic buildings and in a new building to be constructed on an adjacent parcel.

 

 

There is still no progress on the microbrewery planned for the Paramount Square building.  No sign of activity for months, even though the apartments have opened.  

Esoteric has a building permit, as does First Financial Bank going in the first commercial space o the west of CVS.  CVS and all of the commercial suites in the Paramount Building (there are 5 of them) are all on one plat of land.  The architect is currently in the process of dividing the plat into 7 plats, one for each commercial suite, one for CVS and one for the residential property.  The historic review by OHPO/NPS of the residential renovation of the building and first floor white boxes is also still pending.  Finally, Esoteric still has not closed on their financing for construction.  Once all of these items are cleared up, construction will commence (I work for Model on-site at Paramount Square leading the phase 2 renovations on the south side of McMillan).

Is there a legitimate concern that Esoteric wont be able to get all their financing?

As far as I know, there is no concern.  Fundraising did take longer than they anticipated, and the size has been scaled down a bit based on the amount they were able to raise, but the project is still moving forward.

Could have sworn I saw a ticketed ($25 a pop) preview tour event sponsored by Walnut Hills Redevelopment Foundation come up in one of my social media feeds recently. Can't seem to find it now, though.

It definitely happened. I don't know if the money supported WHRF or the brewery. I didn't look too closely.

2 hours ago, ryanlammi said:

It definitely happened. I don't know if the money supported WHRF or the brewery. I didn't look too closely.

I didn't go, but I saw somebody confirm that funds went to WHRF. 

Another one scheduled Tuesday 7/30 at 5pm: https://www.facebook.com/events/848823878836315/

On 7/23/2019 at 3:11 PM, jmecklenborg said:

There is still no progress on the microbrewery planned for the Paramount Square building.  No sign of activity for months, even though the apartments have opened.  

was at Cafe Vivace over the weekend and someone there told me that they were now pursuing a $750K crowdsource financing campaign, which sounded completely nuts to me. 

1 minute ago, jim uber said:

was at Cafe Vivace over the weekend and someone there told me that they were now pursuing a $750K crowdsource financing campaign, which sounded completely nuts to me. 

 

If true that is pretty crazy.  Donate $100 and you get unlimited free beer for a year?

 

 

 

East Walnut Hills streets to be converted from one-way to two-way

By Chris Wetterich  – Staff reporter and columnist, Cincinnati Business Courier

 

Three streets in East Walnut Hills are set to be converted from one-way to two-way, a recent trend as city neighborhoods have sought to improve safety and make themselves destinations rather than just places to drive through.

On Wednesday, the Cincinnati City Council approved $200,000 to convert portions of three streets:

William Howard Taft Road between Woodburn Avenue and Victory Parkway

East McMillan Street between Victory Parkway and Woodburn Avenue

Woodburn Avenue between East McMillan Street and William Howard Taft Road

 

more

This will be really nice for EWH. Curious how it all plays out and when it will finish. Will be nice when the new development is done and also the full project is finished.

anyone know why that was done in the first place?

7 minutes ago, seaswan said:

anyone know why that was done in the first place?

Why were they converted to one-way to begin with? For the same reason that other city streets were converted to one-way: to move more cars and get people to/from the highway as quickly as possible. When I-71 was built, Taft/Calhoun and McMillan were converted to one-way to get cars to/from I-71 as quickly as possible.

I remember reading somewhere that Taft/Calhoun and McMillan were turned one-way when the Bengals played a game in the late 60s at Nippert, and they just never reverted it. 

 

In any case it's nice to see them slowly converted back, one section at a time. I wonder what it will take to convert anything west of 71 through Corryville and CUF. 

Originally they wanted to widen University Ave. straight across from Clifton to Walnut Hills - that goes back to the 1910s-20s., then connect it with Madison.  Instead the concept for MLK and then the McMillan/WH Taft pairing was built.  

 

WH Taft shifts around as it travels across the area because it wasn't an original street but rather a connection of a variety of side streets.  

https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2019/10/29/a-former-walnut-hills-church-is-being-converted-to.html

 

Pretty neat, seems like a really efficient use of the space. 

 

Also haven't been in town for a while, how is all of Walnut Hills looking (renovations/Poste)? When I was there for the summer they seemed to be progressing pretty well.